I - Z

Spanish and Latin American people started to come to the capital at different times. The largest modern-day influx of Spanish people happened after the Spanish Civil War, when political exiles began to settle mainly in Westminster, Kensington, Chelsea and Camden. Many came seeking work, skills and education after the economic crisis in Spain.

Mural showing Guernica bombing

Latin American people started arriving in London mainly in the 1970s at a time of much political turmoil and civil unrest in their countries. Around 2,500 Chilean exiles, including businessmen, professors and students, were met by a small community of Latin people who were already here.

They were helped to settle by British solidarity organisations such as the Academics for Chile, Chilean Solidarity campaign, the Trade Unions and students' organisations. In the following years people from Argentina, Ecuador and Peru came to London. The mid-1980s saw Colombians arriving not only as political refugees, but also as migrant workers escaping conditions in their country. Many of them went into the catering industry.

Keith Floyd takes a gastronomic tour of Spain

Although there are no real Latin American or Spanish districts as such, it is estimated that around 15,000 Spanish people live in North Kensington, focused around the Spanish School in Notting Hill and around Victoria. Other areas with Latin communities are Camden Town, Finsbury Park, Harrow and Wimbledon, with its people being well integrated into London society. In Lambeth the community from Latin America has grown massively within the last five years or so with Spanish being increasingly spoken in the borough.

The early 1980s saw the Latin American and Spanish communities coming together, getting organised and setting up cultural and social organisations. Examples are the Latin American House (since 1980), the Latin American Writers Group (since 1983) and the Latin American Research and Studies Centre, founded in 1987. Recently, this centre has been revived under the name of Latin American Foundation UK. It will provide training and embark on cultural and art activities.

Latin America - Columbia

The term ‘hispanic’ describes someone relating to Spain or Latin America. Hispanic relates to the people and culture of Spain and the word is taken from the Latin word Hispanus.  It was adapted by the Spanish as Hispano and developed into its current form of ‘Hispanic’. Hispanic uses the same style as Anglo which connotes something of English origin or from England.

Matt Di Angelo and Flavia Cacace dancing the Salsa

The Salsa dance is an example of Hispanic influences on London life.  Salsa is a fusion of informal dance styles having roots in Cuba, Puerto Rico, Latin and North America and Spain.  Salsa is usually a partner dance, although there are recognized solo steps and some forms are danced in groups of couples, with frequent exchanges of partner. The term "Salsa" is the Spanish word for sauce, connoting (in American Spanish) a spicy flavour.